I hadn't heard of Mainstay until I listened to Well Meaning Fiction, but I must say it is a great introduction to the band. While the production quality of the album seems a bit unpolished at this point (the finished album will be released on 02/21/06), the upbeat mix of electric guitar with the gentler sound of acoustic guitar and piano, as well as lead singer Justin Anderson's smooth vocals, make this an impressive debut release.

"These Pages" is a solid rock song and sets the tone of the album with urgent guitar riffs and melodic background vocals. I thought this would be my favorite cut on the album until I heard "Take Away", a simple yet appealing melody acknowledging the omniscience and generosity of God, "It's all from your hand and there's nothing that's mine, and all that You give You're free to take away." One of the catchier tunes on Well Meaning Fiction is the fast-paced, "This Could Be", which really had me moving to the beat.

I love how the bridge in both "Mirrors" and "Danger" moves from electric rock into the chorus with the softer sound of acoustic guitars and piano. It's a dynamic change and really adds to the overall feel of the song.

For some reason I found myself comparing Mainstay to both Kutless and Sanctus Real at times, but I don't really think they bear a strong resemblance to either band. I am personally looking forward to catching a live Mainstay performance. Based on the strong debut release, Well Meaning Fiction, I believe Mainstay can look forward to a promising future in Christian music.